Eastern Great Lakes Mix

Hi Brendan
I'm curious as to the make up of our Eastern Great Lakes District.
Approximately how many J/30's are sailing on Lake Ontaro and Lake Champlain?
How many J/30's from Lk Ontario or Lk Champlain are racing one-design?
Can you identify how many J/30 one-design events have occurred in our district in each of the last 5 years?
How many J/30's on Lake Erie?
How many Lake Erie J/30's are racing One-design?
What's the break down of number of participants from our district in a J/30 national regatta in each of the last 5 years?
How many J/30's on Lake Erie are racing with a J/30 OD handicap (available from PHRF-LE)- I know two that are, but there may be more.
How many J/30's on Lake Ontario and Lk Champlain are racing with a J/30 OD handicap

In Toronto, none and none. I race mine in all of our club stuff and some local shorthanded events. PHRF, but with a 155 genoa.

There is no J/30 OD fleet here and none of the very few J/30s around participate in the weekend PHRF / IRC regattas.

Thanks Eric
When you say "in Toronto, none and none" what are are you referring to; no J/30 are racing OD and how many OD events in the last 5 years? Or something else?

What do the J/30's in your area do if not racing. Are the boats mostly for curising?

I race Velocity Girl on lake Ontario. I typically race PHRF with a 163 #1 with a PHRF rating of 135. I have raced it OD once but we don't have any real OD events. There are at least 6 boats on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario, but we cant all seem to get to a regatta at the same time to get ourselves a fleet. I would say that Blaze and Crusader are the most active racers, and crusader went to the NA's this year and last. I will not be taking my boat to the NA's unless they are on Lake Ontario because I don't have the budget. I just got the boat a couple of years ago and I am currently spending my money on sails and re-coring areas of the hull and deck that need repairs. I am chipping a way a little at a time and that is my priority. Would I love to attend a OD event. Absolutely, but not in the budget right now.

HHSA
Velocity Girl
#278

Russ,

I sail Crusader from the Oswego YC. The past few years there has not been any OD J/30 racing in the Eastern Great Lakes District. THere have been many rgattas where we have 3 - 4 J/30's in a PHRF division sailing 135 and usually do very well and have a tight split with boats from 128-141.

At Oswego we have 5 J/30's, 3 race PHRF weekly at OYC, 2 travel(Crusader abd Blaze- Brendan) to Lake wide regattas ( and do very well in PHRF) 1 no longer races and 1 races locally on occassion - looking to sell.

There is one in Port Ontario (Selkirk YC) to the east that cruises and will show up for a OD event for numnbers.
Velocity Girl ( Cannan) is in Henderson Harbor and as Bubba (Forrest Gump) would say " That's about it !

As Cannan Stated I have trailer my boat to the past 2 J/30 NA's . What a fabulous experience. In 2008 we started in a 25 boat fleet. 2009 was smaller at 15. If you plan it out and budget for it it's affordable, Obviously less expensive if you have atrailer and someone who can tow it.

Brendan and I would LOve to see more OD racing in the district - any ideas you have would be appreciated.

Both of us have done the Level Regatta in Youngstown, NY , could you get do that regatta ?

Dan
Sorry for the delay in responding. In a former life (1980) I sailed for two years out of Niagara Sailing Club. Getting back to that area would be fun to say the least.
Sailing Wildcat to Youngstown wouldn't be completly out of the quesiton but highly unlikely. Two - three days to get the boat to Buffalo and another day thru the canal - done that once when I moved to Buffalo. I don't have a trailer, although we know of one for sale, it won't happen this year.
But, the crew is really interested in doing OD racing. We were all set to do the Verve Cup this year in Chicago. We were offered a loaner boat and encouraged to expect a turnout of a J/30 fleet from the Chicago area. Turns out if we would have showed there would New Orleans,La and one Chicago boat.
So... if you can, tell me a few details about the Youngstown regatta. When is it. Will there be enough J/30's for OD. Any chance of a loaner boat? Any push back on our sailing with a "high tech" main?
Separately, I see your boat is the next one out of the mold after Wildcat. We're hull number 529 - not many newer.

Re Toronto, ours seems to be the only J/30 sailing regularly in the immediate area. By that I mean two to three times a week out of downtown, either beer cans or family day sailing. I've seen no others out, but I saw one on the dock when visiting at Mimico about eight years ago, and another that cruised into our club from the eastern end of the lake this year. And those were unusual moments.

As for J/30s racing here in any format outside of club stuff, there are none other than us. This has been the case since we got our boat about five years ago. And we are active outside of our club only to a limited extent. It is possible that there are some J/30s racing within their clubs within 15 miles or so, but I know of none.

Re Youngstown. That would be a great place to get some of us together. I wouldn't expect our own start as there is no way we would get enough boats, but the format is level scoring within tightish PHRF bands so that's as good as it gets. You can look up the scores from previous editions. It's been 25 years since I've done that regatta, but I know it's still fun. It runs in mid July.

OD in the Toronto area in boats of 30' or more is limited to 105s and 36.7s, and sometimes the CC99s. There are also 4 or 5 109s and maybe 3 CC 115s that get together occasionally. the J/35s are pretty much done. PHRF weekend course racing is also on its last legs, but there is a growing IRC fleet (many of which are ex-PHRF boats). Club racing is healthy and the Lake Ontario shorthanded series is thriving. The LO300 distance race had record numbers this year. Racing here is in transition. We're all looking at ways of revitalizing it. Demographics, family priorities and crew are the top challenges, and that's not news.

I am the new owner of hull#139 on Lake Erie. Sandusky Sailing Club, Sandusky, OH. I owned a J/24 for 5 years and traveled throughout the midwest, but I do not have a trailer with this boat. The boat needs some work so I do not think I will be in the water this coming summer.

We will probably be not be traveling a lot, but will consider Levels Regatta in 2011 and will try to travel to Cleveland, Toledo and Put-in-Bay for various races each summer

Brett,
Congrats on your new boat and welcome to J/30 sailing. J/30's are great boats in every aspect of sailing and are very competitive here in PHRF. As well, with you sailing we may be able to get enough boats to do some serious OD sailing. I hope you enjoy the boat as much as I have mine.
If you've spent any time on this forum, you already know that there is always someone that can usually offer input on any issue; please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. It's probalby early if you won't be in the water in 2010 but you may want to hook up with Skip Dieball at Dieball Sails in Toledo to discuss sail inventory.
We have wildcat over at North Cape Yacht Club, only about 30 miles from you. Bob Crumley has Sophia here as well and Dale Gormley has Sand Dollar over at Edgewater. As you suffer through a year without a boat in the water, if you are ever looking for a ride let me know.

If you are interested, send me your e-mail address and I'll add you to my crew "group list" and keep you up to date on what we're doing.
We have a crew party every year after the holidays; Bob and Anita and Dale and Maggie will most likely be there as well. We'd love to have you join us to get to know some of the folks in what now just might now be a fleet.

We race our J/30 PHRF out of Forest City Yacht Club - downtown Cleveland. We do club racing and regattas (have gone as far west as Lorain and east to Grand River, plus a TransErie, couple of Detroit NOODs when they had a level 141 class). There is another J/30 out of our club but he only races club, mostly JAM. We race against Sand Dollar (LSYC) every Cleveland Race week and when we get to Lorain and it's been lots of fun.

We are definitely interested in seeing a J/30 fleet grow on Lake Erie and finding a venue for all of us to sail together, taking into consideration all the non class configurations we see on the lake (headsail size/roller furling, main material, other items) as well as trying to find an equitable location. Maybe it's time for a J/30 planning party!

Brett - welcome, sorry we haven't responded to your email. We just redid Breezin's bottom and some deck areas, new non skid, etc. so please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! And...as Russ says, any of us would welcome you to come and sail with us next season!

Youngstown is one event but has anyone considered sailing in Cork / Kingston Ontario in late August
When I spoke with Brendan, I was suggesting that he make an OD Oswego event close to the Cork dates
We club race in Montreal,and it is a 4-5 day sail to Kingston and just another day to Oswego,...two events would make the trip down worthwile

BreakAway
Hull#532

Crusader and Blaze are Hoping to attend CORK this year 2010 . Hopefully we can talk Caanan into it Velocity Girl. That way we would have 4. Put LYRA regatta in Oswego on Your Calendar for 2012. Maybe we can get Eric from Toronto as well and we could have 8 or 9 30's .

I'll call Brendan and see if we could do a confeence call to discuss a location for a District Regatta
Dan

I went to Cork last this season and had a blast. I highly recommend it!

2 years ago I created and now every year Race Chair the Hog Wild Regatta at Sandusky Racing Club for J24s and Tartan 10s. I will be in the water for the race in 2011 and we could have our own start with only 3 maybe 4 boats. I would be happy to be lead contact to try to get this on the 2011 calendar. Might be a long shot but thought I would offer up the idea.

Brett,
Give us some details on the Hog Wild Regatta. When is it?
Other races to consider:
Mills Race - early June - usually 130-150 boats. Sand Dollar, Sophia and wildcat usually do that race. Two more and we can have our own start.

Bay Week in early August, this year it will be a Friday, Saturday, Sunday with feeder races to the island from Cleveland, Toledo and Sandusky on Thursday night. Sand Dollar, Sophia and wildcat will most likely do that race - again 2 more and we can race OD.

Port Clinton Fall Series in September.

Cleveland Race Week - although I would have crew problems for that one.
Trans Erie - 140 mi race Grosse Ile Mi / Erie PA, change direction every other year. Mid August but not as good a venue for OD racing
O'Connel Fall Bay at Put-in-Bay in early October. Usually 30+ boats; OD racing for Tarten 10's. We could get a J/30 OD as well

Rick,
A J/30 planning party is a great idea. I have relatives in Cleveland and wouldn't mind driving down. Maybe you could get a hold of Dale and try to put something together. I'm sure you folks could find a friendly pub or other venue for an event. Or, Brett can probably find us a place to meet around Sandusky which is probably a good half way point. Finally, if you don't mind driving up this way, I'd be happy to put something together and can surely find a place around Toledo. Any thoughts?

Hey Guys,

I wanted to reach back out to discuss 2011. I have the boat almost ready, bought a trailer...now I just need to see if this boat floats! My plan is to do the Mills Race. I know we needed to get the numbers up for our own start, but wanted to let you know that is my intentions.

Would also love to have everyone come to Sandusky for the HogWild Regatta this August.

Cheers,
Brett

Brett,
We'll be doing the Mills again this year. I'm told that Sand Dollar won't make it although we're hoping Dale will find a way.
Sophia was sold and moved north so I don't think they'll do Mills, but one never knows. As long as I've been doing this regatta I don't recall any other J/30's doing this race

Think about ILYA Bay week in early August. Last year 3 J/30's showed up. Wildcat will be back this year

Another race to consider is the George O'Connell Fall Bay Regatta in late September - we'll be there for that

The weekend after Fall Bay is the PCYC Snow Flurries - we would do that race if there were 4 or more J/30's (check with Sand Dollar and Breezen)

Tell us some details about the Hog Wild regatta. When is it. It might be hard to get others if it is close to Bay Week

Russ,

Good to hear from you. My goal is still Mills but if the boat is not ready I will need to bow out. Lot's of parts and pieces to put back together from this boat....Not sure what the previous owner was thinking!

I am in for ILYA Bay Week and will look into Fall Bay and Snow Flurries.

HogWild is August 28-29 at SSC.

Cheers,
Brett

What. Is the date for Mills. I might be ready

Don,
Mills is Friday night June 10th

Is this the old Sophia? I heard the boat went north

Where will you be sailing the boat? Lake Erie, St. Clair, Huron or other.

Do you have a trailer?

Russ
No, i have no trailer.
No, not Sophia
She is #484 resurrected. CONUNDRUM
I will look into the Mills. It may be a bit ambitious for so early. This is while new boat for me. No new sails yet.
I home port at Jefferson Beach. St. Clair Shores, MI.
Bay Week is on my radar
Looking forward to meeting you all on Erie.

Wildcat is registered for the Mills
Brett, Dale, Don, Rich - five boats and we can have our own start

I want to be there, but I don't think the boat will be ready....I am still TBD.

I am in for BayWeek and 2012 Mills.

I am sorry to say that the Mills won't fit into my schedule this year. I was hoping for Bay Week but that is likely out too. I will keep you posted if anything changes.

Lets try to do a Districts at the Western End of Lake Ontario in 2011.

Blaze, Cariad and Crusader are planning on traveling to Youngstown for the Levels Regatta and Blaze and Crusader are heading to POrt CRedit for LYRA.

Lake Erie Boats - try to put something together on Erie.

Dan Mather

I am new to the crowd but it looks like all the Lake Erie boats are going to try to make Bay Week(end) this year.

The crew of Wildcat did our best to represent the J/30 fleet at the 2011 Mills race. We could use a little help. It's a great race/great venue (141 boats showed up this year) Next year, we'd appreciate a few more area boats showing up to further showcase the capabilities of J/30's.

It appears that the next real opportunitiy to put a Lake Erie J/30 fleet race together will be at the ILYA Bay Race, August 5,6,7. Wildcat will be there. 5 boats will insure us a class start. If we get enough boats we can discuss level vs handicap racing... but right now let's just pick a race where we can get the boats together!!

Boat launches this weekend for the first time, if it floats and the sails go up we will be there.

I'm avaialable Saturday afternoon and Sunday if you need a hand.
Good luck with the launch!!

Russ - thanks, awesome offer. I should be set but someday I will have you on the boat to check it out...and show my where everything goes!

Cheers

Guys, I am so sad that i will not be making Bay Week this year. i have plans to be in the North Channel then. The plans were made before i even bought #484. But Next year I WILL BE THERE!
Brett, Good Luck with your launch. Happy sailing. You're in for a treat. Fun, responsive, turns on a dime and gives change. I'm lovin it!

Hey Guys -

Great news. Boat launched Friday, its floats, sails go up and come down.

Bad News we raced it Saturday and blew out the main (32 year dacron met its match). Unless anyone has a super cheap main for sale I will not be making Bay Week.

Brett

Sorry for your news. I hope somebody comes through for you!

Brett, I have my old Dacron main in the attic. It's 25 years old but hasn't been on the boat since 1997. It's actually in pretty good condition though probalby pretty blown out shape wise. You can borrow it for the season - no charge so long as you promise to give it back
I also have a 5 year old string main that you can borrow for bay week.
Let me know your thoughts